Replacing the clutch on an R-tronic R8?

[SebringSilver]

Just wondering if anyone with an R-tronic has had their clutch replaced, and if so, at what mileage (or km) was it done?

I've read several threads that would suggest that the original clutch should have a fairly long lifespan, but I'm interested in learning more about how that lifespan might be altered by driving style or habits, including repeated or frequent use of launch control.

Does anyone have any insight to share on this?

My car is now at about 40,000 km, and clutch replacement is very much on my mind.

[Arantor]

For example, I'm driving only on tracks and the way to them - with an R-tronic V8, but slightly modified and the clutch is now done after ~4000km, or even less. The car has about 13.000km overall. And with no! use of launch control.
But if you are going "normal" on the street and driving like you have an average car, it should last at least 50.000km, even 75k i would say.

[SebringSilver]

For example, I'm driving only on tracks and the way to them - with an R-tronic V8, but slightly modified and the clutch is now done after ~4000km, or even less. The car has about 13.000km overall. And with no! use of launch control.
But if you are going "normal" on the street and driving like you have an average car, it should last at least 50.000km, even 75k i would say.

Wow, only 13,000 km?? How much harder is track use on the clutch compared to, say, spirited driving on the road? From what your estimates tell me, it sounds like 500%.

Did you have it replaced at your Audi dealership? Are there alternatives?

[thebishman]

Just wondering if anyone with an R-tronic has had their clutch replaced, and if so, at what mileage (or km) was it done?

I've read several threads that would suggest that the original clutch should have a fairly long lifespan, but I'm interested in learning more about how that lifespan might be altered by driving style or habits, including repeated or frequent use of launch control.

Does anyone have any insight to share on this?

My car is now at about 40,000 km, and clutch replacement is very much on my mind.

LC will fry your clutch faster than anything else you can do. Backing up an incline is also hard on the clutch as it is slipping all the time, so try and limit this when you can. On the Ferrari forums I've seen it mentioned that placing the transmission in 'Race' mode like our Sport minimises clutch wear since the clutch action is much quicker this way and again clutch slippage is reduced. Perhaps the same is tru for our cars; I don't know. I would also ensure that the most currect software is loaded on the TCU.
Bish

[the_buch]

I'm at 45,000km and convinced there's lots of meat left :-) No slippage whatsoever with full (supercharged) power application in any gear once the clutch is hooked up. It's been 'launched' once (not by me).

I am having trouble with the clutch wear parameter not behaving properly as part of the 'negotiation' that happens between the ECU and RTronic modules. STaSIS is on it, and in fact arriving today from California with some new software. This exact issue has popped up in a small number of their s/c installations. I must say I remain impressed with their customer orientation :-)

When the clutch is ready for a replacement, I will definitely be putting in the V10 bits. My guess with my setup is about 70,000km.

[SebringSilver]

LC will fry your clutch faster than anything else you can do. Backing up an incline is also hard on the clutch as it is slipping all the time, so try and limit this when you can. On the Ferrari forums I've seen it mentioned that placing the transmission in 'Race' mode like our Sport minimises clutch wear since the clutch action is much quicker this way and again clutch slippage is reduced. Perhaps the same is tru for our cars; I don't know. I would also ensure that the most currect software is loaded on the TCU.
Bish

I've noticed the "Clutch is overheating" warning several times when doing just that, parking on an incline, or repeated start/stop driving at very low speeds while stuck in a traffic jam on a steep hill. The warning goes away once you get back up to normal speeds but I've always wondered how much wear did I put the clutch through during that process.

Fortunately I have not put my car into launch mode.....so far.

[SebringSilver]

I'm at 45,000km and convinced there's lots of meat left :-) No slippage whatsoever with full (supercharged) power application in any gear once the clutch is hooked up. It's been 'launched' once (not by me).

I am having trouble with the clutch wear parameter not behaving properly as part of the 'negotiation' that happens between the ECU and RTronic modules. STaSIS is on it, and in fact arriving today from California with some new software. This exact issue has popped up in a small number of their s/c installations. I must say I remain impressed with their customer orientation :-)

When the clutch is ready for a replacement, I will definitely be putting in the V10 bits. My guess with my setup is about 70,000km.

Doug, I would love to have a chance to sit in your car to see how much, if any, difference there is between our cars in terms of clutch engagement. I've detected some slippage and more than the occasional gearbox shudder/chatter in mine, especially when moving off from a dead stop (but usually more so when the car has been running quite hot).

[Arantor]

Wow, only 13,000 km?? How much harder is track use on the clutch compared to, say, spirited driving on the road? From what your estimates tell me, it sounds like 500%.

Did you have it replaced at your Audi dealership? Are there alternatives?

Don't know an exact way, but it could be like this. But track use will always be more then over 200% more than any spirited drive on the road. There's a rule but I dodn't know it perfectly, says something about "100km track equals 1000km road use" or something like that.

Didn't have replaced it right now, still looking for some alternatives like V10 clutch oder GT (if there is a difference to V10 and fits) or something else. Also I'm thinking about changing it by myself instead of giving it to a dealer. But still looking for the best way to change and of course the best replacement, the V8 original clutch is just to weak.

[SebringSilver]

Thanks, Arantor.

This is a photo of the clutch from my car. The service tech says it doesn't look too badly worn.

[the_buch]

Thanks, Arantor.

This is a photo of the clutch from my car. The service tech says it doesn't look too badly worn.

Hi David ... I saw your car at Open Road this morning. Why do (did?) you have the clutch out, and since it is, why not replace it with the V10 unit (other than the expense :-)).

When I have been getting any uncertain engagement (including shuddering as you described it) and occassional clutch overheating warning it has always been a result of the wear parameter being incorrectly low causing the system to think the clutch is newer than it is and expecting hookup at a different point in it's travel. Resetting this parameter consistently results in excellent performance. What is the current measure of wear on your car and does it make sense (mine is at less than 2,000 within 600km of a reset to 6,000 when the operating range is supposed to be between 3,000 (new) and 8,000 (done))?

Good luck, Doug